p1

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What does our solar system consist of?
Our solar system consists of the sun and the planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The planets orbit the Sun and some of them have moons orbiting them. There are also some dwarf planets and asteroids.
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What is a galaxy?
A galaxy is a collection of stars. Our sun is just one amongst billions of stars that make up or galaxy the milky way.
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What is a light year?
One light year is the distance light travels through space (a vacuum) in one year.
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Why can telescopes that have been put into space such as the Hubble Telescope reveal more detail about the universe?
Telescopes that have been put into space such as the Hubble Telescope can reveal more about the universe because they do not have Earth's atmosphere to block their vision.
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How does the big bang theory explain the existence of the universe?
The big bang theory says that the whole universe started as a tiny point of concentrated energy that exploded about 14 billion years ago. The universe has been expanding from this point ever since.
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What is meant by the red-shift and what does it tell us about the universe?
When we look at light from distant galaxies we find that the light is shifted towards the red end of the spectrum. This is called red-shift and it indicates that galaxies are moving away from us therefore the Universe must be expanding.
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Name the four layers that make up the earth.
The four layers that make up the earth are: the crust, the mantle, the liquid outer core, the solid inner core.
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Explain what is meant by the term continental drift.
The tectonic plates move very slowly (a few centimetres per year) due to the convection currents in the mantle. This movement is known as the continental drift.
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Explain how earthquakes occur at plate boundaries.
At plate boundaries friction may prevent the plates from moving past each other at first. Forces gradually build up until they are big enough to overcome the friction and then the plates move with a sudden jerk which causes an earthquake to occur.
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What do fossils show about sedimentary rock?
Fossils show that sedimentary rocks were not always there and must have gradually formed around the dead organisms.
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Why do layers of rock often show folding?
Layers of rocks often show folding because they have been squeezed so hard due to movements of tectonic plates.
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Explain how new oceanic crust is formed in areas where tectonic plates are moving apart.
Convection currents in the earth's mantle cause seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges where tectonic plates are moving apart. Magma rises up to the seafloor and then cools to form new oceanic crust which then gradually moves away from the ridge.
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Explain what the difference is between transverse S waves and longitudinal P waves.
Transverse S waves' vibrations are 90 degrees to the direction of travel. e.g. light is a transverse wave. Longitudinal P waves' vibrations are the same as the direction of travel e.g. Sound is a longitudinal wave.
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Name the two types of seismic wave.
The two types of seismic waves are longitudinal P waves and transverse S waves.
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Where is the epicentre of an earthquake found?
An epicentre of an earthquake is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the earthquake.
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How can the distance from the seismometer to the epicentre of an earthquake be calculated?
The distance from a seismometer to the epicentre of an earthquake can be calculated from the time delay between receiving the P and S waves.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What is a galaxy?

Back

A galaxy is a collection of stars. Our sun is just one amongst billions of stars that make up or galaxy the milky way.

Card 3

Front

What is a light year?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Why can telescopes that have been put into space such as the Hubble Telescope reveal more detail about the universe?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

How does the big bang theory explain the existence of the universe?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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